Blackhawks Fans Have Been Waiting For Today For 18 Years

Anyway, we're hoping today is the day we've waited for for 18 years. That ended in Edmonton in four games, with Dirk Graham declining the opportunity to touch the Clarence Campbell Trophy. Johnny, take your cue. We stand at the precipice once again. I'd love to sit here and tell you the Sharks will just roll over and let the Reaper embrace them, but this Sharks team almost certainly won't. Though they threw their best punch on Friday and still came up empty, I doubt they're going to chuck it. So the Hawks will have to be on their game. And there's no reason not to be. Leave it all out there, and you'll have at least 6 days off before you get an opportunity of a lifetime.

It's not that the Hawks were bad on Friday, either. They just faced a team that was playing for its lives that is also extremely skilled, and there were a couple calls that certainly didn't help (hey look, I'm a Scum fan!). I can't recall the Hawks being jittery in their zone or not getting bodies in front or turning the puck over, the Sharks just played very well. Niemi once again declined them, and the Hawks eventually found their way. It was back and forth for a lot of it, except for the 3rd, which was torture. Quite simply the Hawks cashed in on the mistakes the Sharks made. Boyle firing off-balance with Toews in handshake distance, leading to Weapon's breakaway. Nabokov, Boyle, and Heatley turning into the Nairobi Trio (much dap to whoever gets that reference) while Buff waltzed into the slot for Bolland to find. So keep doing that, and it's all over.